Category Archives: Social Networking

LBi & bigmouthmedia Publish A Christmas Countdown

To help retailers effectively plan for the Christmas spike in trade, which typically accounts for around 20-30% of the industry’s annual sales, global digital marketing and technology agency LBi and its media arm bigmouthmedia have published ‘A Christmas Countdown: Getting your online business ready for the holiday season’, a joint insight document which provides best practice advice and recommendations on how to plan and execute an effective Christmas ecommerce strategy.

The agency, which works with clients including Boots, Cath Kidston and Play.com, has developed a detailed month-by-month timeline packed with advice on how to best utilise online channels in the run up to the festive season.

Phil Gripton, MD at LBi and bigmouthmedia, said: “Last December there were 2.1 billion UK visits to online retail websites in the UK, with 44% of Britain’s online adult population spending more online than in the previous year, pushing the total value of online purchases to £2.8bn. This was in spite of the gloomy economic situation. The Christmas period is therefore vital to the health of a retailer’s bottom line, and with the digital media landscape constantly evolving, it’s important that retailers embrace the latest trends and techniques, which are featured in our insight document.

“We will continue to help our clients maximise their potential in the peak periods through challenging plans and assumptions, bringing the best practice and ideas to the activity and pushing hard to maximise opportunities. It’s an exciting time to work with our retail clients and our guys love the thrill of it.”

To download the full A Christmas Countdown report visit http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/brains/.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Swoon.co.uk Reveals Brits Have Lost Their Romantic Spark

Swoon.co.uk has revealed that, when it comes to marriage proposals, Britain has lost its romantic spark. Nearly half (45%) of males spend less than a few days planning their proposal with only in five (21%) getting down on one knee.

Latest research from Swoon shows that Brits are happy to have a simple, spontaneous proposal in the comfort of their own home but when given the option to turn back time, less than one in three thought that their proposal was perfect.

Gone are the days of Hollywood-inspired romantic proposals in sunny climes – instead of whisking their partner abroad for a romantic getaway, 68% of males proposed in their home. It’s just as well that women have low expectations with only 15% of women wanting their partner to propose to them whilst on holiday.

Commentating on the results, Harley Street relationship therapist and life coach, Trevor Silvester, said: “I think several things might be going on here: the first is that the recession is probably having an effect on people’s aspirations. In times where money is tight we’ll tend to lower our dreams a little and look to find the romance through some other, cheaper, means. I suspect the money that would have been spent on setting the perfect scene for the proposal is instead going towards the cost of the wedding, the honeymoon, or the means to move in together.”

Results have further shown that the excitement of the actual proposal has disappeared with three out of five males (63%) not planning to propose on one knee. Surprisingly the latest statistics show that men and women have similar ideas with only one out of three women (30%) actually wanting their partner to get down on one knee.

Trevor Silvester said: “I am pleased to see that getting down on one knee is losing popularity, because it means fewer people are opting for the obvious and actually doing it in a way that feels right for them. My advice to anyone would be that the location is less important than the timing. Pop the question when the mood is perfect and it’ll become a romantic and unforgettable memory.”

Many women are now taking it upon themselves to pop the question. Statistics show that when British women propose it is impulsive with four out of five women (83%) proposing with less than a month’s planning and over half (53%) of those proposing spontaneously. Whilst they have broken tradition by proposing, three out of four women (75%) hoped that their partner had beaten them to do it.

Silvester says: “It’s great that more women are proposing – and I think the spontaneity of their decision shows that in many cases the emotion of the moment needs be strong enough to overcome the social conditioning that says it’s the man’s job. In my opinion, if we’re looking for partnerships to be equal, why shouldn’t the onus on who asks who be spread equally too? I think many men would love for that to happen. Certainly I would have done.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Google Confirm Testing of New Search Options and Results, say QueryClick

The search engine giant is currently testing out a number of new features on the search results page that could soon change the way the site identifies the most relevant results.

After months of speculation, Google has finally confirmed that it is indeed trying out a new user interface test on their search results page. The changes, which show the left side search filters are in a scrollable filter, are just part of their move towards testing a form of infinite scroll web search, which is when users don’t have to click a button to take them to the next page, as scrolling down will load more search results instantly, which will give users more and more results for their query.

Christopher Liversidge, QueryClick’s Managing Director comments: “Google’s decision to test infinite scroll web results comes less than a year after they were forced to deny that they were doing exactly that, when a report surfaced in November 2010 that they were already working towards creating these results. While these reports were found to be based on search results caused by a Chrome extension called FasterChrome, the potential for these kinds of results obviously interested Google.”

The news that Google is experimenting with new features on their search results page shows that the search engine is keen to give the user as many results in possible, and also means that they won’t have to continually click through to other pages in order to find what they’re looking for, say QueryClick.

Chris continues: “Over the past year it’s become clear that Google has made a number of tweaks and changes to the way they display their results, in order to make them more accessible to the user. For example, in July 2010, it was revealed that they were making big changes to their image search and Image Search Ads, including larger thumbnail previews, a hover pane, a new landing page, and of course, instant scrolling. So, if these trials are successful, instant scrolling and a whole host of other features could soon be the latest additions to Google’s search results, which can only be good news for Google’s users.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Bing’s Streetside Feature Now Available in the UK

Following the recent announcement by Microsoft that Bing’s mapping feature, Streetside was coming to Europe, the first images of the project are beginning to appear, say QueryClick.

In April, Microsoft announced that Streetside, Bing’s visual mapping feature was going to appear in Europe in the coming months, its first images of London have already begun to appear online. The appearance of these images mark the first time that people outside of the US are able to use Streetside, and London is the first city to experience this new service, say QueryClick.

Christopher Liversidge, QueryClick’s Managing Director comments: “There was a lot of excitement earlier this year when it was revealed that the URL microsoftstreetside.co.uk has been registered, and following on from the official announcement it has emerged that the first images of London are now available online for all to see, which is great news for Bing users in the UK.”

Microsoft has previously said that it wasn’t going to be focusing on capturing every street or road in the capital, with the emphasis going on ‘urban and more heavily trafficked areas’, so not every single street in London will be available to view online. However, users can still use Streetside to view some of the busiest streets in London, and in either traditional 360 views seen in Google Streetview or as a basic panorama, which gives users a choice in how they view their maps, say QueryClick.

Chris continues: “If user want to view the images in 360, then they will have to have access to Silverlight, an alternative to Flash Player, which will enable them to see the streets in clear and high-quality image of the street in question. But if they don’t have Silverlight, then they can still view the images in what’s known as “Bing Maps Classic”, which is the official name for a panoramic image on Bing. While Bing has only been concentrating on London so far, they hope to expand their UK Streetside project to a number of other cities and towns in Britain in the future, which will give Bing users more options for when they want to use Bing’s maps.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Valued Opinions Reveals People Are Unsure About Facebook Tag Suggestions Facial Recognition

Valued Opinions has revealed that the majority of people don’t like or don’t mind the Facebook’s new facial recognition feature.

Market research surveys carried out by Valued Opinions show the new Facebook feature, called ‘Tag Suggestions’ has proved a controversial topic.

Valued Opinions ran an online poll which was designed to find out how current Facebook users view facial recognition with results showing 35% of American respondents don’t like the feature, 35% don’t mind it and only 16.5% of the respondents admitted to liking the new feature.

This new system allows Facebook to recognise someone the user knows, or the user themselves, in a photograph and ‘tag’ them automatically.

Users do have the option to deactivate this feature but complaints have arisen because members feel they were not sufficiently notified about the global launch. The face tagging feature was introduced in the US during December 2010 and launched globally in June 2011. The facial recognition feature means that Facebook is now embroiled in a privacy controversy as many privacy groups have filed complaints with the US Federal Trade Commission over Facebook’s automated facial recognition technology.

The feature was originally launched on the US only version of Facebook, but it has been recently rolled out to most of the social networks remaining 600 million users without prior notification. While the feature only applies itself to newly uploaded photos, all users are automatically opted in to the feature, and therefore have to turn it off if they wish to opt out.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Web Perspectives Reveals 80% of Canadians Still Use Facebook

Web Perspectives has revealed that 80% of Canadian respondents said they use Facebook at the same level of high than they did a year ago.

Despite Facebook ‘losing’ 1.5 million users in Canada over the past 2 months, speculation is rife that this social networking empire is on the decline.

With almost 700 million users worldwide, Facebook has revolutionised online social networking.

However, the Inside Facebook Gold Data Service reports that growth has slowed down in some of the biggest markets in the world for two consecutive months. Over the past year, the company gained an average 20 million new users each month but in April and May, the figures were significantly lower (13.9 million and 11.8 million respectively). Despite sharp growth in countries such as Brazil, Mexico and India, some of Facebook’s biggest markets are actually losing active users. The United States lost almost 6 million users during May, and Canada lost 1.5 million in the same month. The UK, Norway and Russia also posted losses of at least 100,000. Facebook stated that its aim was to reach 1 billion users worldwide*.

This headline news has sparked speculation that Facebook’s reign as the King of the Social Network may be drawing to a close. High visitor numbers are important for the company to attract advertisers, but if its growth rate continues to fall, Facebook has cause for concern**.

However, Facebook’s critics should not rejoice too soon. In a recent statement, Facebook stated that it was ‘very pleased’ with its growth, and questioned the accuracy of the IFG figures.

Toronto was the first city to pass the million user mark, and in some Canadian cities non-Facebook users are in the minority. Canada’s 15 million active Facebook users represent half the population, and ironically, this high penetration may explain why Facebook usage appears to be flagging here. According to the IFG, developed countries where Facebook users represent around 50% of the population reach a ‘saturation point’ after which usage inevitably slows down to a halt***

Despite the 1.5 million users that have shut down their Facebook profile over the past couple of months, over 9 million Canadian users still log on to Facebook every day. 41% of Canadian respondents to the Web Perspectives’ survey questions still use Facebook as much (or as little) as they did a year ago and some 39% of Canadian respondents actually say they now use Facebook more often compared to their usage of the site this time last year. A very small 2% of Canadians surveyed said they used the social network in the past and have since stopped using it.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

commissum Sponsorship of Open University Student Prize

commissum is proud to again be the sponsor of the prize for the Open University Post Graduate module for Information Security Management; the M886 module. This is the second year that commissum has sponsored this prize.

The winner of the prize this year is Canadian student Sara Maharaj, from Ontario. Sara took the Information Security Management module as a standalone course for her professional development. The Information Security Management module is very focused on taking a practice-based approach; this encourages the student to base what they do upon an organisation that they are familiar with.

The course provides the foundation knowledge, understanding, analysis and synthesis needed to develop a practical information security management system (ISMS), to the standard set by the ISO/IEC 27001:2005 and BS ISO/IEC 17799:2005. It also targets helping the students acquire the personal development skills that they need to keep abreast of important developments in the rapidly changing field of Information Security.

Sara, having successfully undertaken the course as the top student, said:

“The course provides valuable insights into how to strategically manage information security within the organization. The practical exercises force you to think through a methodical implementation of the ISO 27001 standard, which facilitates excellent learning.”

Managing Director at commissum, Martin Finch, is a keen advocate of this practical approach to learning. He said:

“When students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn during the course of the module, it not only reinforces the lesson and benefits them and their respective organisations, but also instils a sense of great satisfaction”.

Last year’s joint winners were Ian Knight and Sally Anderson. Ian Knight who graduated with a BA/BSc Open Degree took the Information Security Management course as the last step in his degree journey. Ian works for a major Telecoms provider, with responsibility for Information Assurance on large client contracts. He said:

“The course materials were some of the best that I have encountered in the OU and in other study; I found the course to be of immediate practical use in my work almost from the start of the first unit”.

Sally Anderson, who is Head of Web and IT in a leading University, also commented on the practical nature of the course, saying “I have directly applied the new knowledge and skills to my work already and have the confidence now to advise and manage information security on behalf of my organisation”.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Bigmouthmedia Appoints Mike Mason as Director of Product Portfolio

Bigmouthmedia, global digital media company, has announced the appointment of Mike Mason as director of product portfolio. Underlining the company’s commitment to high quality client service, Mike’s role will see him take operational responsibility for delivering a programme of best practice and continuous improvement to services across the entire bigmouthmedia client roster.

Mike will also take ownership of the day-to-day running of a broad range of services including search engine optimization, PPC, performance marketing, usability and reporting & analytics for bigmouthmedia’s mid-tier clients.

Mike has worked in the technology, mobile and telecoms sectors for over 20 years in operational and sales and marketing roles, including sales and marketing director at the post sales service provider Regenersis and a 10 year stint as a non-executive director for Codestuff. Mike has also led teams that designed and delivered successful services for some of the world’s leading technology and communications brands, including Telefonica, Panasonic, Deutsche Post (DHL), Vodafone, Sony and Apple.

Phil Gripton, MD at bigmouthmedia said: “bigmouthmedia is a mature company with a global footprint and delivering consistent, high quality campaigns to all of our clients is the central value of our business. Moreover our clients should, and do, expect this whether they are a start-up or a blue-chip brand. Mike’s breadth of experience will be a significant asset to the bigmouthmedia senior team and his proven track record in generating operational quality for some of the world’s most recognisable technology firms will be critical to us in the coming months. His appointment represents our clear commitment to best practice and client-centred service delivery. I’m very much looking forward to Mike’s contribution to the business.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases


Facebook Founder Calls For Lifting Of Age Restrictions, A Smart Move Says SEO Company Queryclick.com

Following news that Mark Zuckerberg thinks children 13 years and younger should be allowed access to social networks, SEO experts Queryclick.com suggest he’s taking a logical stance.

Star of the social networking field Facebook has been at the centre of controversy recently, thanks to the suggestion from the CEO that age restrictions should be removed.

Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has said he believes children ages 13 and younger should be allowed to access the social networking site for the benefit of their education.

Speaking during the New Schools Venture Fund’s Summit in California, Zuckerberg said he expected education to become more social in the future, in the same way already seen in health, retail and finance sectors.

At the summit, which explored innovation in education, the Facebook founder explained he was passionate about education reform. Zuckerberg was relaxed as he spoke about the subject with interviewer, and venture capitalist, John Doerr.

He claimed that letting younger children interact with social sites could prove beneficial for them in the long term. SEO experts Queryclick.com said the young star of the social scene has a valid point, although he may find it difficult to win over his dissenters. “Social media has really exploded in the last few years, making it obvious to any doubters that the medium is here to stay,” said a spokesperson.

“Many young children are already very savvy when it comes to social networking, but many retain massive security concerns, which were born in an earlier era of the internet.”

As it currently stands, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) mandates that websites that collect information about users (like Facebook does) aren’t allowed to sign on anyone under the age of 13.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Bigmouthmedia Wins Best Search Engine Agency Award at the Interactiva Awards

Global digital marketing agency, bigmouthmedia, has been announced as winning a prestigious award in the ‘best search engine agency’ category at the Interactiva Awards in Madrid. The digital agency, which is the media arm of LBi, managed to achieve bronze medal status behind major technology and search companies Google and T2O.

The awards, which were created and hosted by the prominent Spanish marketing magazine Interactiva, are now in their 10th edition and recognise the very best work delivered by companies in communication, advertising, digital marketing, e-commerce and new technologies. Covering 14 categories including best support, best agency, best tool, best campaign and best SEO Project, the awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and are widely considered to be the ultimate industry accolade.

Lyndsay Menzies, CEO of bigmouthmedia, said: “After only two years in the Spanish market it is a huge achievement to be up there with companies such as Google and T2O. Our unique business culture and blended cross digital approach means that we are able to draw on a much wider digital skill set and blend this to create international campaigns that pull together social media, CRM, SEO, technology and creative ideas.”

Manuel Jurado Gras, general manager of bigmouthmedia Spain, added: “We will continue to provide our clients with this differentiated service and in particular I would like to thank our talented team for all the hard work, commitment and motivation which has ultimately underpinned our growth and success as a company.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

commissum at Infosec Europe 2011

Another Infosec Europe has come and gone. Once again, commissum had a strong presence; the company’s sixth year of exhibiting at this premier event.

Information Security experts commissum managed to make the even a great success, despite visitor numbers being reported as 15% down on the previous year owing to the timing falling immediately before the Easter and Royal Wedding holiday weekends. We had over 500 visitors to the commissum stand asking for information on the company and arranging follow-up meetings after the show.

The commissum stand this year will have been familiar to regular attendees of the event. Our corporate colour of deep yellow once again stood out with our smartly dressed stand staff in their white shirts and yellow ties. Our credentials as a CREST company and CLAS consultancy provider were once again prominent.

At this year’s show, as usual, members of the commissum team were on hand to discuss our visitors’ requirements, provide advice, and also explain the services we offer. This naturally covered our complete portfolio across security management, penetration testing, consultancy and technology services; however, this year we also put some emphasis on two areas; both attracting strong interest:

Project/software development lifecycle (SDLC) security; and Managing Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC) through true unified governance.

We were supported in the above areas by our partners DB3, who demonstrated the HiScout Unified Governance suite, and Checkmarx, one of the leading innovators in the field of static code security analysis. Both partners received a lot of attention with their industry leading tool suits.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Bing’s Move Towards Social Networking Integration Is A Smart Move, Says Seo Company Queryclick.com

Microsoft’s Bing has been trying to chip away at Google’s prime position in a number of ways, and now the search engine has revealed a new social integration strategy sure to get industry experts talking.

As an increasing number of web users turn to social networks for information and breaking news, search engines are being forced to reassess their traditional methods of ranking. This means that search engine results are changing, and the introduction of ties with Twitter and Facebook indicates Bing is embracing the new order.

The search engine will now offer real-time Twitter updates in Bing News, as well as in other SERPS, as a way to offer searchers up-to-date and breaking news in their search results. This way, the search engine hopes it will allow users to keep on top of trending topics without bypassing the search engine altogether.

This is the kind of move search engines need to be making if they want to engage with a new audience, claims SEO company Queryclick.com. A spokesperson said: “Integration like this is the best way search engines have of safeguarding their position as the top place for searchers.

“As social media channels become stronger, search engines face the danger of losing younger generations. By offering users the chance to make their searches a little more social, Bing could help tempt them to stay on one, centralised engine, rather than choosing to search within their favourite social networks.”

Additionally, Bing has announced a new partnership with Facebook, which will see Bing’s entertainment results instantly shared to Facebook users, if they are signed in to both. This feature will utilise Bing’s liked Results functionality and will allow users to share news of their favourite films, artists, musicians and TV shows to all of their Facebook friends.

The Bing and Facebook integration will also offer an overview tab that will allow Facebook users to update their statuses directly from the Bing entertainment results.

By keeping users in the search results, Bing could create an advantage for itself, said search engine optimisation experts explained. “If Bing can persuade its searchers to update their Facebook pages without having to leave the SERPs, it will have achieved something of a coup.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Google Moving Into Mobile Phone Credit Cards, SEO Company Queryclick.com Says It’s Got Its Eyes On The Money

Mountain View giant Google is said to be considering a move into mobile phone credit card payments, according to sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal.

Reports suggest that the search engine is poised to forge bonds with MasterCard and Citigroup so that Android users will have the ability to pay for purchases with the help of ‘near-field communications’ technology (NFC).

At the launch of the Nexus S, allusions were made to such a move, and fans of Android are welcoming the development. NFC mobile payments are also rumoured to be making their way to Apple devices in the near future, with many expecting subsequent iPhones to be equipped with NFC chips, while Orange has already joined forces with Barclaycard with the aim of offering contactless payments.

If the reports are true, Google could be set to open a new round of iPhone versus Android debates, claims SEO company Queryclick.com. A spokesperson said: “It’s a slow burning battle, but Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhones are set to continue squabbling for top position in the hearts of smartphones fans for years to come.

“While Apple may have had the initial advantage, technology geeks quickly embrace the flexibility and functionality of the Android operating system. New moves like this are exactly the kind of thing Google can use to its advantage, and if it beats Apple to the punch with contactless payments, it could cement its place at the top.”

The Nexus S is currently the only NFC ready phone on the market, although Samsung is slated to be releasing the Galaxy S II with this functionality in the summer. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has already announced NFC technology will not be included in the iPhone 5, stating his belief that the technology is still at too early a stage of its evolutionary process.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Risks Of Using Social Networking In Business

Social Networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace and Youtube have gained popularity among the younger population. Sites such as LinkedIn, Plaxo and Xing have followed quickly in their footsteps to provide the business friendly social network opportunities.

More recently, companies large and small are exploring ways to use social network site to support and improve sales (Youtube), to find new employees and business partners (LinkedIn) or to monitor their performance and respond to critics (Yelp and increasingly Facebook and Twitter).

However, for information security experts commissum.com, businesses looking to embrace these social media channels and tools in their business need to understand and calculate the benefits and risks before engaging them.

To consider the risks of using social media for your business consider the following:

Be careful using social media for employment vetting purposes for the same reasons that employers should not ask about religion, preferences, age, race etc.

Once a business takes the step of using social media, they are opening up a channel that in most cases you have very limited control of; in fact almost handing over control to the public. How would the business deal with both fair and unfair criticisms and opinions expressed on social media websites and how could its reputation be affected?

Would your employees know what business information can be disclosed on social media websites and could the business therefore be at risk of involuntary information leakage?

Could information on the size, structure of the business and operational details such as IT infrastructure details be used for initial data gathering activities for targeted attacks?

Could the business IT infrastructure be vulnerable to malicious software downloaded from social network sites?

And lastly consider whether the business should monitor the activities of its employees to ensure that security is maintained and resources are not being wasted by social networking activities.

“The risks of using social media encompass all aspects of the business; legal, employment, technical, operational and reputation”, according to a commissum spokesperson.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

SEO Experts QueryClick Welcome Launch of Google’s New Online Magazine Think Quarterly

In a word dominated by constant algorithm updates and product launches, Google’s release of this polished, beautifully crafted, and highly informative magazine (or book as it is referred to by the search engine giant) offers a more reflective and in-depth look at the wider issues surrounding online business.

As Matt Brittin, Managing Director of Google’s UK and Ireland Operations, insists, Think Quarterly is:

“a breathing space in a busy world. It’s a place to take time out and consider what’s happening and why it matters.”

For UK SEO company QueryClick.com, the online magazine is a very welcome addition to the industry. A QueryClick spokesperson commented on the benefits of the publication:

“Although the vast majority of businesses are highly aware of the importance of online marketing, and SEM in particular, there remains a degree of inhibition regarding the ins and outs of search engines and the extent of the importance of active engagement with search engine optimisation.

“Think Quarterly will hopefully serve to demystify some of the more inaccessible tenets of search engine operations by reaching out to businesses on a more accessible level.

“By attracting a broad spectrum of business minded individuals hoping to gain a better understanding of online culture, the significance of SEM will hopefully permeate (whether directly or indirectly) through the pages of the magazine.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

UK SEO Company QueryClick Ltd Analyse The Updated Version of Google Analytics

Four days ago, Google announced that a new version of Google Analytics would be rolled out to all GA users. For UK SEO company QueryClick.com, the new and improved feature means an enhanced ability to analyse data and report their findings back to clients.

The announcement came at the Google Analytics User Conference in San Francisco last Thursday. Though the new version will not be immediately available to users, a closed beta version has been offered out to willing test participants, eager to get a first look at any changes and improvements.

Many of the refinements which have been implemented were the result of feedback from frequent GA users, something which has been backed by the SEO experts at QueryClick.com:

“By assessing the actual user experience, and acting upon feedback provided by those who rely on Google Analytics on a daily basis, Google has demonstrated its ambition to create a truly user-friendly experience.”

Some of the major refurbishments include the ability to view various advanced segments without the need to compare against ‘All Visits’, as well as the option to customize an account dashboard. The latter provides users with a greater level of control over the hierarchy of their data, as well as allowing for enhanced visual customization; you can view data in whichever format (pie chart, timeline, table etc…) you prefer.

Much of the renovation has been focused on the look and feel of the user interface, with significant alterations being made to the overall design, as well as to the report nomenclature. What was previously categorised as Goals will now be labelled as Conversions, while Network Properties and browser capabilities will now fall under the umbrella of Technology.

For QueryClick.com, the allowance for multiple dashboards per client is one of the more attractive new features. A spokesperson said:

“This allows for a far more comprehensive set of account highlights, offering users the ability to access the key points of different aspects of any campaign with far greater ease.

“For example, those who track the social media performance of a site, or have a particular interest in specific site activity, can collate all the basic info they need in an easy to reach location.”

The latest development has come following the recent integration of Google Analytics with Google Webmaster Tools. Though the integration was not deeply rooted – users can now access a client’s referral traffic report from the GWT links section – it provides a preview of things to come.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

New Social Network Site for the Fashion Industry

WorkinFashion the professional network for people working or seeking work in the fashion industry has just launched; attracting thousands of fashion professionals and jobseekers.

WorkinFashion combines all the best features of a social network like Facebook or LinkedIn with a sophisticated job board and candidate search system. The network offers specific profiles for fashion professionals, models, companies and recruitment agencies.

Start a career profile on the network to search for jobs, get scouted or simply to network with other professionals and companies working in the industry. Models start a profile and upload your portfolios browse casting calls and build up your fashion network.

Start a company profile to promote your brand, recruit new staff for permanent or temporary jobs.

Recruitment agencies advertising vacancies in any area of the industry from retail to design can have a profile on WorkinFashion and benefit from unlimited job advertising and candidate searching.

Search candidates, view their career profile and CV’s then connect with them to offer them employment.

To celebrate our launch, we are offering a whole year of recruitment advertising on WorkinFashion absolutely FREE to fashion and retail recruiters that sign up before the 1st April 2011.

We hope to see you joining us on the network, register your free personal, model, agency or company profile online at www.workinfashion.com.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Closure of MyBlogLog Indicative of The Stifling Effects of The Yahoo Brand According To SEO Experts QueryClick.com

It comes as no surprise that the MyBlogLog service will be closing this year, following the leaked statement in December 2010 concerning the closure of a stream of services including Delicious, Yahoo Buzz and Yahoo Picks. The leaked screenshot surfaced when it was posted to Twitter by former Yahoo employee and founder of MyBlogLog, Eric Marcoullier.

MyBlogLog was acquired by Yahoo little over 3 years ago for a sum of $10 million. Its purpose was the creation of widgets which site owners could insert in order to track fellow MyBlogLog members who read their blogs. Similar to the idea behind the display of “like” widgets by external websites.

The service is to be officially shut down on the 24th May this year, with any unused subscription portions due to be refunded back to premium service users.

UK SEO company QueryClick.com commented on the familiarity of the ill-fated acquisition:

“The demise of MyBlogLog is the latest in a series of failed acquisitions by the company. Such an anti-climactic relationship has become a miserable familiarity where Yahoo is involved, with many citing the persistent failure to follow up on initial hopes and promises as the major flaw of both sides.”

Several examples can be cited, such as the largely forgotten acquisition of ‘Upcoming’ (a site providing a local and national listing of events) in 2005 and the deal between Yahoo and Flickr dating back to the same year. The latter promised much, but has since withered into the background for anyone except photo enthusiasts, with Facebook consuming up more and more of the photo sharing market. Upcoming on the other hand, was one of the Yahoo services earmarked for mergers or consolidation in the leaked screenshot of December 2010.

The cuts being made are in accordance with the overall plan to reduce costs within Yahoo, who had also made the decision to layoff hundreds of staff at the end of last year.

The demise of so many of Yahoo’s acquisitions can be categorised under one main defect, largely the neglect of the acquired company following the initial phase of thrill and ambition for the future. A spokesperson for SEO experts QueryClick.com pin-pointed the common factor between the doomed Yahoo acquisitions:

“For so many of those start-ups taken on by Yahoo, a primary sense of optimism was soon stifled by an excess of bureaucracy and an inability to agree and get to work on new products or innovations.”

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases

Bing’s Integration of Facebook ‘Likes’ Is The Next Phase In Social Search, Claims SEO Experts QueryClick

True to form, the world of social media shows little sign of slowing down in terms of infiltrating every aspect of our lives; search engines being no exception.

While Google laid bare plans to include relevant content from social media sources such as YouTube, Flickr and Twitter, Microsoft’s own search engine – Bing – has been preparing its move into the realm of social search with a much touted tie with Facebook.

Now Facebook “liked results” will become integrated with everyday Bing searches which Bing’s development team described as “part of a longer journey” into an improved cohesion between search and the social sphere.

Commenting on Bing’s inclusion of Facebook ‘liked results’, a spokesperson for Edinburgh-based SEO experts QueryClick said:

“QueryClick are not surprised to see Bing announce a tie with Facebook in a bid to keep shoulder to shoulder with Google following the launch of the latter’s real time, social media search results some 18 months ago.

“The ability to ‘like’ search results and see those that your friends have ‘liked’ is another step closer to a much more personalised search experience that pulls in the activities and opinions of an individual’s social circle.

“It’s also highly likely that personalised search will lead to a much greater emphasis on personalised advertising which has already been seen on Facebook.”

The introduction of the ‘Bing Bar’ – a simple tool bar function – will also serve to blur the line between search engine and social media platform even further.

Via EPR Network
More Internet & Online press releases